Inflatable funnel

ABSTRACT

Inflatable funnel that can be inflated into any shape, deflated into any shape, folded up into any shape and stored in a minimal amount of space.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The complete subject matter of the above-referenced U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in itsentirety. In addition, this application makes reference to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/654,402, entitled “InflatableFunnel”, and filed Feb. 18, 2005, the complete subject matter of each ofwhich is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[Not Applicable]

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

[Not Applicable]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most funnels are used for adding oil to an engine and are made of hardbulky plastic. With most funnels, the more liquid you would like tohold, the bigger the funnel and storage space it will take up. Mostfunnels don't bend very well in hard to reach places. Prior patents forthe collapsible funnels have been issued and are not truly collapsibleto a point of fitting into small places for storage. Savage U.S. Pat.No. 743,570 shows an inflatable snake or the like that is provided witha valve for inflation and “slow leakage” (p. 1, line 40), so that thetoy assumes various shapes during inflation and deflation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A broad object of the present invention is to provide an inflatablefunnel which can be constructed of many inflatable pockets, filled withair through a valve and a plug is placed in the valve to prevent airfrom releasing the many inflatable pockets.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inflatable funnel whichcan have many sloped inflatable pockets.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable funnelwhich can release air from a valve thus causing the air in the manyinflatable pockets to be released and or collapsed.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatablefunnel which can release air from a valve thus causing the air in themany sloped inflatable pockets to be released and or collapsed.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatablefunnel which can have a valve located on any of the inflatable pockets.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatablefunnel which can have a valve located on any of the sloped inflatablepockets.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatablefunnel which can have some inflatable pockets.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable funnelwhich can have some sloped inflatable pockets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a wired diagram of the inflatable funnel withcomponents.

FIG. 2 illustrates the inflatable funnel.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of the inflatable funnel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a wired diagram of the inflatable funnel. Theinflatable funnel (101) is connected to the tube (102). There can be anynumber of tubes (102) connected to the inflatable funnel (101). There'sa valve (103) which is connected to the inflatable funnel (101). There'salso a plug (104) which can be connected to the valve (103) and anoptional one at the end of the tube(s) (102). The inflatable funnel(101) is comprises of many inflatable pockets (105, 106, 107, 108 109),when combined together, they create the inflatable funnel (101). Thesesame inflatable pockets (106, 107, 108 & 109) deflate and are the pieceswhich make the inflatable funnel (101) collapse for storage. When fullyassembled, you should have a complete inflatable funnel (FIG. 3). Thefunnel and its components are made of vinyl and can vary in size.

FIG. 2 illustrates the inflatable funnel. The funnel is inflated through(203). During the inflation, through the valve (203), parts (201) and(202) are filled with air pressurizing areas (201 and 202), refer toFIG. 1 for more details. In order to prevent the air from leaking out ofthe valve (203), a plug (204) is inserted in to the valve (203).Deflating the funnel is done through the valve (203). The un-pressurizedparts/areas are discussed in more detail in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of the inflatable funnel. Theinflatable funnel must be unfolded in order to used. In order to do soyou should unravel/unfold (306, 305, 304 and 302). Afterunraveling/unfolding, remove plug (309) from the valve (303) and fillthe funnel with air, through the valve (303). Air shouldpressurize/inflate (301 and 302), (304, 305, 306, 307 and 308) will notbe inflated. Make sure the plug (309) is inserted into the valve (303)to keep air in sections (301 and 302). Remove the plug (310) from theend of the tube (307). Once pressurized, liquid, particles or fluid canbe poured in to the inflatable funnel, which will travel throughsections (308, 304, 305, 306 and 307). To stop flow of liquid, particlesor fluid, fold in half section (304 or 305 or 306) or use the plug(310). When you are done with the inflatable funnel, squeeze the valve(303) to un-pressurized the funnel (301 and 302). You can proceed tofold up the funnel by folding sections (306, 305, 304 and 302) together.

Steps to inflate the funnel are as follows: Refer to FIG. 2, remove plug(204) from valve (203); Blow air into valve (203) until air fills up inareas (201 and 202); Insert plug (204) back into valve (203).

Steps to deflate the funnel are as follows: Refer to FIG. 2, remove plug(204) from valve (203); Squeeze areas (201 and 202); Air will exit valve(203). At this point, leave plug (204) out of the valve (203) or insertthe plug (204) back into the valve (203).

Steps to fold away/store the inflatable funnel are as follows: Refer toFIGS. 2 and 3, remove plug (204) from valve (203). Squeeze areas (201and 202). Air will exit valve (203). At this point leave plug (204) outof the valve (203) or insert the plug (204) back into the valve (203).Flatten, fold and store.

1. A funnel for pouring material, the funnel comprising: a sloped funnelsegment; a plurality of inflatable pockets, each comprising a left end,a right end, a top end and a bottom end; the plurality of inflatablepockets wherein each of the plurality of inflatable pockets is connectedat one end to the sloped funnel segment and at the left end to the rightend of another one of the plurality of inflatable pockets; A valve forblowing air and releasing the air; the plurality of pockets filling upwhen air is blown in through the valve; A plug is placed in valve toprevent the plurality of pockets from releasing air.
 2. The funnelaccording to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pockets releasing orcollapsing air through the valve.
 3. The funnel according to claim 2,wherein the sloped funnel segment releasing or collapsing air throughthe valve.
 4. The funnel according to claim 1, wherein the placement ofvalve on any plurality of pockets.
 5. The funnel according to claim 1,wherein the placement of valve on the sloped funnel segment.
 6. Thefunnel according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of pockets at leastsome of inflatable.
 7. The funnel according to claim 3, wherein thesloped funnel segment at least some of inflatable.